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Featured tracks & albums...

Mandolinquents
The Simon Mayor Quintet are SM, Gerald Garcia, Richard Collins, Hilary James, and Maartin Allcock. This debut album features everything from hot swing and ragtime instrumentals from the mandolin orchestras of the 1930s to Irving Berlin, Mozart, Ravel, Tchaikovsky, Irish airs and Chinese and Brazilian folk tunes. All this played with infectious fun, off-beat humour and stunning virtuosity on mandolin, mandola, mandocello, mandobass and classical guitar, with the occasional burst of song or fiddle.

'from classical to Irish and American traditional music in a superbly accomplished style... plus the delightfully pure voice of Hilary James'
Traditional Music Maker

'I can't help but be transfixed by the sheer brilliance of all the musicians and the exquisite vocals of Hilary James. If you hadn't guessed already (stop the superlatives from flooding through...) this is a more than worthy contender for album of the year!'
Steppin' Out

Press reviews: (PDF) (Text). Read the tracklist.

Soundclips
Cheek To Cheek
Pavanne
Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy  


Price:    £12.50
(Pay in any currency: info) 		Mandolinquents

Laudamus Te
Vivaldi Gloria in D Major for two sopranos

available as MP3 download only

The Two Sisters - Hilary James and Janet Giraudo - with accompaniment by Simon Mayor in a specially commissioned arrangement for mandolin family instruments (mandolin, mandola, mandocello)

After spending 30 years and almost 1000 miles apart in England and the south of France, the two sisters from Staffordshire, Hilary James and Janet Giraudo, discovered a talent for singing together. This track, recorded in England in August 2008 is a taste of a first album scheduled for release in 2009. The sisters sing in a wide range of styles from classical to folk and swing, including some French and English traditional songs.

Soundclip: Laudamus Te 


MP3 download price:    £0.80
(Pay in any currency: info) 		Laudamus Te

Burning Sun
Hilary James' debut album - newly remixed, remastered and reissued

'Burning Sun' reached the top ten play list on BBC Radio 2. Plays followed on BBC Radio1, World Service and stations as far afield as Los Angeles and Latvia. A magical and atmospheric blend of folk songs and originals with haunting words and melodies. 'Burning Sun', includes the spell-binding folk tales of 'The Two Sisters' and 'Polly Vaughan' alongside Handel's beautiful lament, 'Laschia Ch'io Pianga' sung with a bell-like purity.A magical blend of folk songs, classics and originals.

'Elegant singing' Daily Telegraph

Soundclips
Busy Old Fool / O'er The Ocean  


Price:    £12.50
(Pay in any currency: info) 		Burning Sun

Dance of the Comedians
NEW ALBUM! The Mandolinquents captured live at New Greenham Arts.

'If the test for any live album is whether it makes you wish you had been present, this sails through with distinction.'
Colin Randall, Daily Telegraph

Press reviews: (PDF) (Text). Read the tracklist.

Soundclips
Apanhei-tei Cavaquinho / Lullaby Of Birdland
Caravan / Dance Of The Comedians
Rigaudon / Song Of India  


Price:    £12.50
(Pay in any currency: info) 		Dance of the Comedians

Music from a Small Island
NEW ALBUM! Simon’s first CD release since the New Celtic Mandolin in 1998 is a journey from Dorset via his native Yorkshire to Scotland. This is Simon’s first album not to include the word ‘mandolin’ in the title. While the mandolin family features strongly his fiddle and guitar playing come to the fore in a collection of Scottish folk tunes.

'...folk record of the year... evocative virtuosity and (from Hilary James) faultless singing'
The Daily Telegraph

'... stunning performances and arrangements. Mayor's artistry is breathtaking.'
Rock 'n' Reel

'This is the kind of recording that were it a piece of art it would happily hang alongside a Picasso.'
Folking.com

This album is also available as
an MP3 download.

Press reviews: (PDF) (Text). Read the tracklist.

Soundclips
Ghyll Force / Rosebud In June
The Strid / Auld Rob Morris  


Price:    £12.50
(Pay in any currency: info) 		Music from a Small Island

Other pages of interest on this site...
Tours - tour dates for Hilary James & Simon Mayor and The Mandolinquents
Trade - trade outlets for Acoustics Records products.

Some important external links...
Mandolin.co.uk - Simon Mayor's own website.
Folksong.co.uk - Hilary James' own website.
ChildrensMusic.co.uk - musical merriment at the Musical Mystery Tour website.


Acoustics Records, PO Box 350, Reading RG6 7DQ, England.
Tel: +44 (0)118 926 8615.